October 2011
[Japan:PIXUS MG8230, Americas/Europe/Asia/Oceania:PIXMA MG8200 Series]
[Japan:PIXUS MG6230, Americas/Europe/Asia/Oceania:PIXMA MG6200 Series]
Enhanced design sensibility on top of a rich array of features
Photo 1: PIXUS MG8230
Photo 2: PIXUS MG6230
This month’s technical report presents the special features of two new inkjet photo all-in-one printers, the PIXUS MG8230 (Photo 1) and the PIXUS MG6230 (Photo 2), which were announced on August 31, 2011 in Japan.
The PIXUS MG8230 has a design befitting a premium model with an external surface finish that recalls the finish of high-end EOS cameras. Canon has enhanced the all-in-one printer's design sensibility, on top of a rich array of features such as Wi-Fi, the Intelligent Touch system, and the Quiet Mode.
Feature 1 — Photo-quality printing
Photo 3: Six-color ink tank system
Six-color ink tank system for even more amazing photos and text
The new all-in-one printers feature a six-color ink tank system that includes a gray ink tank (Photo 3). The gray ink lends color prints better color stability and richer expressiveness and adds a professional finish to B&W prints by reducing the graininess in gradient regions. The two black inks (dye-based and pigment-based) create sharp, attractive photos and text. The ink system gives beautiful results not only on photo paper but also on plain paper and postcard address blocks.
FINE high-density print head technology results in higher quality prints
FINE (Full-photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering) is Canon’s high-density print head technology. With this technology, the print head, which ejects ink droplets as fine as one picoliter, can create brilliant high-quality prints with resolutions up to 9600* × 2400 dpi. FINE — the technology that makes fast and beautiful prints possible — is unique in two ways: the production method of the integrated precision nozzles, which requires semiconductor lithography production equipment developed by Canon in-house, and the ink-ejection mechanism, which consistently and accurately dispenses a minute amount of ink.
* Ink droplets cano be placed with a pitch of 1/9600 inch at minimum.
ChromaLife100+ offers longevity of over 300 years for album-protected photos
Not only does the combination of genuine Canon dye-based inks and genuine Canon photo papers give users richer and more vivid color reproduction, it can preserve the beauty of their treasured photos for many years to come. Photos sealed under film in an album and kept in a dark location can last more than 300 years when printed with ChromaLife100+ ink on Photo Paper Plus Glossy II (PP-201) paper and more than 200 years on Photo Paper Pro Platinum (PT-101) or Photo Paper Plus Semi-gloss (SG-201) paper.
Figure 1: Easy-PhotoPrint Pro screenshot
Easy-PhotoPrint Pro connects the all-in-one printers with EOS digital SLR cameras
Easy-PhotoPrint Pro (Figure 1) is a plug-in that works with Digital Photo Professional — Canon’s RAW editing software packaged with EOS Digital cameras — that enables seamless printing. Users can print RAW images without conversions and make advanced color adjustments effortlessly. Professional-looking black-and-white prints can be made from color data simply by choosing from either the standard “B&W” option or either the “cool tone” or “warm tone” options. Easy-PhotoPrint Pro also works as a plug-in for Adobe® Photoshop® CS / CS2 / CS3 / CS4 / CS5* and Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 6 / 7** / 8* / 9*.
* May require downloading the latest update.
** Only supported on Windows® operating systems.
Photo 4: Layout
Photo 5: Merge Frames
Rich software that adds to the fun of printing
(1) Full HD Movie Print with new functions
The new all-in-one printers let users print favorite frames from movie data* recorded with a Canon digital camera which supports Full HD Movie Print. Two functions have been added to this feature: the Layout function (Photo 4), which arranges multiple images taken from a movie, and the Merge Frames function (Photo 5), which overlays multiple images on one print.
(2) Fun Filter function adds easy artistic effects to photos
These all-in-one printers include the Fun Filter Effect, which lets users add artistic effects to photos taken with digital cameras using Soft Focus, Toy Camera, Fish-eye, Miniature, and Blur Background filters (Photo 6).
Note: Fun Filter Effect are applied in Solution Menu EX or Easy-PhotoPrint EX.
* Selecting movie frames requires ZoomBrowser EX 6.5 or later (Windows version) or ImageBrowser 6.5 or later (Mac version). This function is not available on PowerPC Macs. Only MOV files taken with a Canon digital camera are supported.
Photo 6: Fun Filter Effect
Feature 2 — Improved operability
Intelligent Touch system provides lighted navigation
The Intelligent Touch system (Photo 7) navigates the user through a series of operations by lighting only the necessary keys. Key touches are acknowledged with a tone, and the electrostatic sensors provide a reassuring response even to light touches. The scroll wheel also operates with a very smooth feel.
Photo 7: Intelligent Touch system
Standard equipped with Wi-Fi and wired LAN connectivity
The MG8230 and MG6230 support Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11n / IEEE 802.11b / IEEE 802.11g) connections for wireless printing and scanning without a physical cable connection to the computer. The card reader function* can also be shared wirelessly from anywhere in a room. Furthermore, troublesome Wi-Fi configurations can be made with press of a button if the local network uses an NEC Access Technica access point that supports Raku Raku Wireless Start, an AOSS-capable Buffalo Wi-Fi access point, or a WPS-capable Wi-Fi access point. The MG8230 and MG6230 also support wired LAN connections (100BASE-TX / 10BASE-T).
Note: Wi-Fi and wired LAN cannot be used simultaneously. An access point is required for Wi-Fi connections.
* Writing to a card via a network is only available on Windows® computers. Mac computers only support reading cards.
Figure 2: Smartphone app
Smartphone app for easy photo printing from smartphones
Users can wirelessly print the photos saved on their smartphones with Canon’s smartphone app that offers a new style of printing. After downloading the Canon Easy-PhotoPrint app for free* from either the App Store in the iTunes Store for iPhones, iPod touches, or iPads or the Android Market™ for Android™ devices, users can start enjoying photo printing right away (Figure 2).
* The customer is responsible for the communication charges when accessing either the App Store or the Android Market™.
Figure 3: Quiet settings from Solution Menu EX
Quiet Mode for whisper-quiet printing
Turning on Quiet Mode — either at the printer itself or with the included Solution Menu EX software — significantly reduces the operating noise level of the printer when printing, scanning, or copying (Figure 3). On the MG6230, operating with Quiet Mode on is approximately 23 percent* quieter than normal printing. Users can set Quiet Mode to be always on or to be on during certain hours, such as at nighttime. Families with small children or users who frequently print at night will welcome this function.
Note: The print speed is reduced when Quiet Mode is on.
* Noise measurements follow the ISO 7779 standard with plain A4 paper. Noise levels were measured when printing the ISO 7779 reference monochrome pattern in the standard monochrome mode.
ECO settings indicate ecology benefits at a glance
Several ECO settings are available at the printer itself. For example, if the user presses the ECO icon on the HOME screen and enables two-sided printing for copying, the printer will automatically make two-sided copies, which saves on paper. Also, Auto Power Off can be enabled to conserve standby power.
Feature 3 — High-resolution scans
4800 dpi optical resolution scans
The scanning sensor, which has an optical resolution of 4800 dpi, provides clear, high-resolution scans. The scanner’s reflective light source uses high-luminance white LEDs. Scanning can start immediately because the LEDs deliver stable light intensity as soon as they are powered on, unlike conventional fluorescent lamps that need time to warm up.
Photo 8: Film scanning
Film scanning (MG8230 only)
The MG8230 can scan six unmounted 35-mm film frames or four mounted slides in one pass (Photo 8). It can scan both negative and positive film. By converting film to data, photos can be archived better and printed at any time. When scanning films, it is possible to apply fading correction, grain reduction, backlight correction, and sharpening.
Feature 4 — Versatile print functions
Photo 9: Auto duplex printing
Photo 10: BD, DVD, and CD
label printing
Auto duplex printing and copying
The all-in-one printers are standard equipped with an auto duplex unit that accepts plain paper. This means both sides of a sheet of plain paper can be printed automatically without having to turn the paper over (Photo 9). Duplex copying is also available.
BD, DVD, CD label printing
The MG8230 and MG6230 can print photos and text directly onto printable Blu-ray disks, DVDs, and CDs (Photo 10).
Table 1: List of MG8230 and MG6230 specifications
| Model | MG8230 | MG6230 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum printing resolution (horizontal x vertical) | 9600*1 x 2400 dpi | ||
| Print head | Number of nozzles | Total of 6,144 nozzles | |
| Nozzles per color | C, M, GY: 1,536 nozzles each; Y, Dye BK, Pigment BK: 512 nozzles each | ||
| Accepted paper sizes | Cut sheets / genuine Canon paper |
A4 to A5, letter, legal, envelopes (Youkei 4, Youkei 6, Choukei 3,*2 Choukei 4), cards (postcards, inkjet postcards, inkjet glossy postcards, Genuine Canon postcards), reply cards | |
| Genuine Canon paper only | L, 2L, 8 × 10, KG, Special Business Cards | ||
| Paper for auto duplex printing | Plain paper (A4, A5, B5, letter) and regular postcards | ||
| When using a compatible software application | Cards (inkjet postcards, inkjet glossy postcards, Genuine Canon postcards) |
||
| Paper-feed method | Rear tray / paper cassette (plain paper only) | ||
| Max. tray / cassette capacity |
Plain paper | 150 sheets each (rear tray and paper cassette) | |
| Regular postcards | 40 sheets (rear tray only) | ||
| BD, DVD, CD label printing | Supports 8 cm and 12 cm printable disks | ||
| Color LCD monitor | 3.5-inch TFT | 3.0-inch TFT | |
| Interfaces (for computer connections) | IEEE 802.11n / IEEE 802.11g / IEEE 802.11b, 100BASE-TX / 10BASE-T, Hi-Speed USB, Bluetooth (optional) *Wi-Fi and wired LAN cannot be used simultaneously |
||
| Compatible ink tanks / cartridges | BCI-326C / 326M / 326Y / 326BK / 326GY, BCI-325PGBK | ||
| Remaining ink detection function | Combination optical/dot-count method | ||
| Operating noise level | ~46.5 dB (A) | ||
| Operating conditions | 5 – 35°C, 10 – 90% RH (no moisture present) | ||
| Power consumption | Copying: ~25 W; Standby: ~3.2 W | Copying: ~25 W; Standby: ~3.0 W | |
| Power supply | 100 VAC, 50 / 60 Hz | ||
| External dimensions*3 (w x d x h) | 470 x 396 x 199 mm | 470 x 367 x 173 mm | |
| Weight (including the print head and ink tanks) |
~10.7 kg | ~9.2 kg | |
| Main accessories | Set of ink tanks, set-up CD-ROM, set of user manuals (paper version), CD-R tray | ||
Basic card direct / USB flash memory direct specifications
| Model | MG8230 | MG6230 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compatible memory cards*4 | Compact Flash cards, Microdrives, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, SD memory cards, SDHC memory cards, MultiMedia cards, MMCplus cards, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo |
||
| Adaptor required | xD-Picture cards, xD-Picture cards Type M, xD-Picture cards Type H, Memory Stick Micro, RS-MMC cards, miniSD cards, microSD cards, miniSDHC cards, microSDHC cards, MMCmobile cards |
||
| USB flash memory | Yes | ||
| Print functions | Supported recording formats | JPEG taken with digital cameras compliant with the DCF Ver. 1.0 or 2.0 standard / TIFF (Exif standard)*5 | |
| Max. number of photos | 2,000 | ||
| Paper sizes | A4, Postcard, L, 2L, 8 × 10, KG, Special Business Cards | ||
| Cropping function | Yes | ||
| Storage functions | Read function / write function (not available with USB flash memory) | ||
Basic camera direct specifications— Print functions depend on the type of connected digital camera, digital video camera, or mobile phone.
| Model | MG8230 | MG6230 |
|---|---|---|
| Supported devices | Digital cameras, digital video cameras, and camera phones that support PictBridge | |
| Auto Photo Correct II | Yes | |
| Cropping function | Yes | |
Basic copier specifications
| Model | MG8230 | MG6230 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max. copy size | A4 / Letter | ||
| Accepted paper | Sizes | A4, A5, Letter, Postcard, L, 2L, KG, Special Business Cards | |
| Other media | BD, DVD, CD (12 cm printable disks) | ||
| Density adjustment | 9 manual levels / auto (auto density adjustment) | ||
| Multiple copying | B&W / color | 1 to 99 sheets | |
| Expansion / reduction | Preset magnifications | Postcard to A4 (200%), A5 to A4 (141%), B5 to A4 (115%), A4 to B5 (86%), A4 to A5 (70%), A4 to Postcard (47%), Min. (25%) |
|
| Zoom magnifications | 25% to 400% in 1% increments | ||
| Auto magnification | Yes | ||
Basic scanner specifications
| Model | MG8230 | MG6230 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scanner type | Flatbed scanner (platen only) | |||
| Sensor type | CCD | CIS | ||
| Resolution (dpi) | Optical resolution (horizontal x vertical) |
4800 x 4800 (film scanning: 4800 x 9600) |
4800 x 4800 | |
| Max. original size | A4 / Letter | |||
| Film scanning | Supported film (negatives and positives) |
35mm mounted and unmounted frames | n/a | |
| No. of continuous scans | Unmounted 35mm frames | 6 | n/a | |
| Mounted 35mm frames | 4 | n/a | ||
| Scanner driver | TWAIN compliant / WIA (Windows® 7, Windows Vista®, Windows® XP only) |
|||
Basic network specifications
| Model | MG8230 | MG6230 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protocol | TCP/IP | ||
| Wired | Supported standards | IEEE 802.3u (100BASE-TX) / IEEE 802.3 (10BASE-T) | |
| Transfer speed | 10 /100 Mbps (auto-selection) | ||
| Wireless | Supported standards | IEEE 802.11n / IEEE 802.11g / IEEE 802.11b | |
| Effective indoor range | 50 m*6 | ||
| Easy configuration | Raku Raku Wireless Start, AOSS™, WPS, WCN | ||
*1. Ink dropets can be placed with a pitch of 1/9600 inch at minimum.
*2. Not supported on Mac operating systems.
*3. Not including trays.
*4. May not function with certain memory cards or adaptors.
*5. Still images in other formats (such as RAW) and movies are not supported.
*6. Actual range depends on the transmission speed and the physical environment.
